Anita Dobson

Birthday: Apr 29, 1949
Birthplace: Stepney, London, England, UK

Bio: Anita Dobson is a British television actress most famous for playing the part of the emotionally battered and alcoholic landlady, Angie Watts, in the BBC1 soap opera, EastEnders - a role which she played from the show's inception in 1985 to 1988. Anita supposedly landed the role of Angie by coincidence, when she happened to be at Elstree Studios when the intended… More Bio: Anita Dobson is a British television actress most famous for playing the part of the emotionally battered and alcoholic landlady, Angie Watts, in the BBC1 soap opera, EastEnders - a role which she played from the show's inception in 1985 to 1988. Anita supposedly landed the role of Angie by coincidence, when she happened to be at Elstree Studios when the intended actress failed to show up. Anita was asked to audition and was soon offered the part. Whilst playing Angie Watts, Anita worked closely with actor Leslie Grantham, who played her adulterous husband 'Dirty Den Watts. 30.1 million viewers tuned in on Christmas Day in 1986, to witness Den handing Angie her divorce papers, giving the soap its highest ever episode rating, which has yet to be beaten by any other plot line from any other soap in the UK.

Since her exit from EastEnders she has appeared in many television, film and theatre roles, including the BBC sitcom Red Dwarf in 1993, Dangerfield 1995, BBC drama Sunburn in 1999, hospital dramas Casualty (2000) and Holby City (2003), and the ITV detective series The Last Detective (2004) among others. She has also been reunited with fellow EastEnder Leslie Grantham in the Sky production called The Stretch and the ITV Horror series Urban Gothic in (2000). Most recently she signed up for the ITV1 police drama The Bill in 2005.

Dobson was nominated for a 2003 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress for her performance in Frozen at the Royal National Theatre: Cottesloe. In August 1986 she reached No. 4 in the UK Singles Chart with "Anyone Can Fall in Love," a song based on the theme music of EastEnders, which was written by Simon May. She has also released several other singles and albums with minor chart success.

Anita is married to Queen guitarist Brian May.